Denmark and Italy help secure Baltic Airspace

Demark and Italy are to keep the skies of the Baltic safe as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission in the region. Danish F-16 jets will fly from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, while Italy’s Eurofighters will operate in a supporting role from Ämari in Estonia. Allies have been taking turns to police Baltic airspace since 2004, when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined NATO.

At a ceremony on Monday (8 January 2018), Denmark took over Air Policing from the United States. It is the sixth time Denmark has taken part in the NATO mission. An event will be held on Wednesday (10 January 2018) to mark the handover from Belgium to Italy, it is the third time Italian aircraft have patrolled Baltic airspace.

The Danish and Italian jets will be deployed for the next four months. Seventeen Allies have participated in Baltic Air Policing mission since 2004, an expression of the solidarity among NATO members.

High resolution photos

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian airman briefs Estonian firefighters on the Eurofighter Typhoon. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian airman briefs Estonian firefighters on the Eurofighter Typhoon. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Air Force pilot poses in front of an Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon sits in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon sits in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon in Amari Air Base, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon taxiing before taking off. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon takes off from Amari Air Base in Estonia.The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base, Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon takes off from Amari Air Base in Estonia.The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base, Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon takes off from Amari Air Base in Estonia.The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base, Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Eurofighter Typhoon takes off from Amari Air Base in Estonia.The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base, Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018Members of the Italian Air Force pose in Amari airfield, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base, Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Air Force pilot poses in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Air Force pilot poses in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Air Force pilot poses in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing 18 Jan. 2018Members of the Italian Air Force pose in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia, as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.

Italian Air Force in Estonia - NATO Baltic Air Policing18 Jan. 2018An Italian Air Force pilot poses in a hangar in Amari, Estonia. The Italian Air Force has deployed fighters to Amari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the integrity of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian airspace. The Italians will be deployed to Estonia for four months.